Guyton makes history as first Black woman to perform at ACM Awards

By KATIE BEEKMANDaily Arts Writer

Last week, Mickey Guyton made history as the first Black woman to perform solo at the Academy of Country Music Awards. She sang to an empty Grand Ole Opry house where lights lined the pews instead of people. The audience watching from home was largely unfamiliar with Guyton or her music — her debut “Better Than You Left Me” peaked at #34 on the Billboard Country Airplay Chart in 2015, her highest-charting single to date. Nonetheless, Guyton made the most of the moment. Her performance of “What Are You Gonna Tell Her?” unflinchingly addressed why it’s taken so long to break the double-layered race and gender barrier in country music. 

“What Are You Gonna Tell Her?” is one of six songs on Guyton’s latest EP Bridges, and it pulls no punches. The piano ballad is a…

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